Colorado tourists slapped with federal charges for stealing historic artifacts from national park
A pair of tourists from Colorado are facing federal charges after they allegedly stole numerous historic artifacts from a national park in Utah.
Roxanne McKnight, 39, and Dusty Spencer, 43, are accused of trespassing in a fenced-off historic area inside Canyonlands National Park known as Cave Springs Cowboy Camp and stealing multiple preserved artifacts — including antique nails — on March 23, the US Attorney’s Utah district office said Monday.
The pair blatantly ignored the fencing and clear “no trespassing” signs at the historic site, which houses artifacts from the camps of pioneer cattle ranchers between the late 1800s and 1975, the attorney’s office added.
The camp also holds rock carvings done by Indigenous tribes dating back some 6,000 to 7,000 years.
“Entering, touching or climbing on archeological sites is strictly prohibited,” the park website states.
McKnight and Spencer were allegedly captured on trail cameras hopping the fence and handling the artifacts, KSL reported.
They allegedly removed artifacts from a cabinet and “handled historic harnesses in a manner that had potential to damage them,” park rangers said.
Both are charged with theft of government property under $1,000, possessing archaeological resources, and walking on or entering archaeological resource.
McKnight and Spencer are due in court on Nov. 8.
The National Park Service is continuing to investigate the case.
